For the treatment of an overactive bladder, tolterodine dosing typically starts at 2 mg twice daily. Your healthcare provider may lower your dosage to 1 mg twice daily if you experience side effects, have liver or kidney disease, or are taking certain medications. To maintain an even level of medicine in your system, try to take your tolterodine dosage at the same times each day.
The dose of tolterodine tartrate (Detrol®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Other medications you may be taking
- How you respond to tolterodine
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Tolterodine Dosing for Bladder ProblemsThe recommended starting dose of tolterodine for overactive bladder treatment is 2 mg twice daily. However, your healthcare provider may recommend a lower dose (tolterodine 1 mg twice daily) if you experience bothersome side effects of tolterodine, if you have kidney or liver disease, or if you are taking certain medications (see Drug Interactions With Tolterodine).
Considerations for people taking tolterodine include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth twice daily.
- You can take tolterodine with or without food. If the drug bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- Tolterodine should be taken at the same times each day to maintain an even level in your blood.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Tolterodine will not work if you stop taking it.
- If you are unsure about anything related to tolterodine dosing, talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking the drug without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.